• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.269-272
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• 2018

A 4-year-old, 6.1 kg intact female dachshund was referred to the Animal Medical Center with acute right hind limb lameness. Radiographs revealed fractures of iliac body and tibia in the right limb. In addition, the dog exhibited tricuspid valve regurgitation and moderate heartworm infection in the right ventricle and main pulmonary artery on echocardiogram. To obtain stable anesthetic conditions for operation, an adult heartworm removal procedure was previously followed by repair of the complex fractures. All surgical procedures were done without complication and with stable patient conditions. At a one month postoperative follow-up, the dog was doing well with normal ambulation and no tricuspid valve regurgitation as well.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.177-184
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• 2022

Caval syndrome is a severe complication of canine heartworm disease in which affected dogs present with various clinical signs that are often life-threatening. In cases of severe infection, adulticidal treatment has numerous complications as a result of a marked immune response against dead worms. Therefore, several surgical and non-surgical methods, including interventional extraction, have been applied in veterinary medicine. Despite the usefulness and efficiency of conventional retrieval devices, a few associated limitations must be addressed to reduce their risks and increase their applicability. Herein, we introduced a case of treating three dogs with caval syndrome by applying a newly developed heartworm basket device. The dogs were diagnosed with heartworm disease by heartworm antigen testing and direct smear. Imaging findings revealed remarkable remodeling of the right heart and pulmonary vessels and the presence of heartworms in the right heart. Additionally, heartworms were confirmed in the distal part of the abdominal aorta and femoral arteries in one dog, indicating aberrant systemic migration of the worms. Under general anesthesia, the heartworm basket device was introduced into the right heart via femoral venotomy and arteriotomy in one dog and jugular venotomy in the other two dogs. Although the number of cases in this study was small, the basket device was successful in gradual and cautious extraction of the heartworms in all three dogs. They exhibited good prognosis of clinical symptoms as indicated by imaging analyses.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.600-604
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• 2010

A ten-year-old female mongrel dog was presented to Veterinary Medical Center, Chungbuk National University with the signs of anorexia, weakness, and hemoglobinuria. Patient had been diagnosed as dirofilariasis based on heartworm antigen test and treated with adulticide (melarsomine) at local hospital one day before admission. On laboratory examinations, there were hypochromic and microcytic regenerative anemia, thrombocytopenia, moderate neutrophilia, and increase ALT, AST, and ALP. Radiographic exam showed main pulmonary artery bulging, pulmonary infiltration and hypervascularity, reduced abdominal serosal detail and mild hepatomegaly. Abdominal ultrasonographic exam showed mild peritoneal effusion and large hyperechoic thrombi at trifurcation of the porta hepatica and the splenic vein. In addition, intraluminal low density area and intravascular filling defect were confirmed on contrast enhanced CT scanning at the same anatomic locations. Patient was treated with anticoagulant and thrombolytic therapy. On day 42 after treatment, complete resolution of thrombi was confirmed via ultrasonography and improvement of clinical signs was observed.